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WaldenVC CERTIFIED

No New Investments Warning:
Members have submitted information that the following organization(s) may not be making investments into new portfolio companies. This warning can be contested by submitting proof of a completed investment in a new portfolio company within the last four weeks here.

Firm Rating:

Rated 2.7 / 5.0 by 13

TrackRecord

2.6

OperatingCompetence

2.5

PitchingEfficiency

2.5

FavorableDeal Terms

3.1

ExecutionAssistance

2.9

Firm Homepage:

FIRM OVERVIEW: Medium Private VC founded in 1974 based out of San Francisco, USA (US West)

FIRM DESCRIPTION: WaldenVC has been reformed by a select group of Partners into Walden Venture Capital and is actively investing and managing prior WaldenVC funds.

Posted by
Anonymous
on 2007-06-29

PUBLIC:

Very odd meeting. A few years back they ask us to come and pitch. We see the list of attendees and thoroughly research each person. During the meeting another person affiliated with their fund comes in and starts drilling us. Afterwards we googled him and found out that he was an angel investor in our competitor. Shady, very shady firm. I would recommend avoiding.

Met with Phil and Larry and was less than impressed. They showed tremendous enthusiasm during the meeting, asked good questions and seemed satisfied with the answers. Then they didn't return calls or emails for about three weeks. Poor.

We pitched to Steve Eskenazi (sp"). I have pitched to probably 40 VCs in 10 years. He was, hands down, the most rude and unpleasant person I have ever met with in a VC firm. All my founding team walked out and said, "What an asshole". Our company was funded by a top tier VC, so it was not completely us, I don't think.

I would never pitch or recommend anyone pitch to Walden. Life is too short to deal with assholes.

I am sure other entrepreneurs have had other experiences, but this was mine.

Our meetings with John went very well. He knew our space, and was always willing to take calls and followed up. Very professional, and a very nice guy. Too bad they passed, would have liked him on our board.

Posted by
ImageVision
on 2013-06-26

PUBLIC:

Walden invested in my company late in 2010 as the first institutional investor. This is my first company to start and Matt and Larry have been great mentors and sounding boards throughout the whole process. The Walden team is great to strategize with and make time outside of board meetings as needed.

Matt has been in the CEO role as well as senior marketing roles at previous start-up companies and brings excellent knowledge and experience to my company, largely made up of engineering talent.

Posted by
Cargo Chief
on 2016-06-04

PUBLIC:

We have been working with Walden VC, and Matt Miller now for a year, and it has been very good. When we went through a complex closing of two convertible notes into a single equity round, Matt and Walden were extremely practical and accommodating. Then Matt in Board Meetings and other meetings is engage, and leverages his years of operational background and early stage company experience to help us out. Frequently, Matt is helping us think about our strategy and top priorities. He does this in a fashion that is helpful, not threating. Given Matt's load, his availability is impressive and he is efficient with my time, which is key for a busy CEO. Close Walden if you can.

Posted by
dell
on 2009-08-08

PUBLIC:

For a company or exec looking for solid business acumen and perspective, there is no better than Steve. He has the discipline to understand your business and market. Those who have had the benefit of Steve's guidance would say that he builds a close alliance and relationshp with his execs and really cares about their success - not just his success. He is savy about the business and the people so execs get far more than typical in the coaching he provides.

I'm surprised to see these negative comments. I pitched to Walden and Eskenazi a couple of years ago and Steve was extremely gracious, smart and helpful. We didn't get a term sheet from them, but we did had three meetings that were progressively more interesting and helpful. Steve opened his rolodex to us even though Walden didn't fund us. I'd pitch him and Walden again anytime.